Military History

Herbert listed as being killed in action on 23rd October 1917. The 155th Battery war diary for that day is transcribed below.

Map Reference 28C.C.3.b.1.9 - Iron Cross - SW of Langemarck - 23/10/17:

9.30am to 11.00am: Enemy 5.9 and 4.2 howitzers shelled Battery positions. Casualties: One man killed [Herbert?], 5 men wounded and 2 evacuated with shell shock.

About 200 rounds of H.E.

2.38pm to 3.30pm: Battery area again shelled by enemy 5.9 and 4.2 howitzers. About 100 rounds of H.E.

5.55pm: Received orders for “counter preparation” for 15 minutes. Half rate of fire.

Owing to many casualties & great strain on men, detachments have been reduced so as to work at the guns in shifts of 24 hours

Military History

Richard is listed as being killed in action on 25th October 1918. The 1st/8th Battalion war diary entries for the period 23rd to 26th are transcribed below and it is likely that Richard was actually killed on the 23/24th October.

Pommereuil - 23/10/1918: The attack commenced at 01:30 hours the battalion moving in rear of the 9th Devons and the battalion was to be used to help to mop up Pommereuil if necessary or if this necessity did not arise to pass through the 7th Brigade and carry the intermediate objective which was the road in L.22.a.d. Owing to heavy fog the attacking units of the first wave became rather mixed up and the situation was for some time obscure but on Capt. Montmorency, M.C. (who was commanding the Battalion at this time) going out and taking command of troops of all units and organizing attacks on enemy M.G. posts which had been missed by the first wave owing to the fog. The situation rapidly cleared and all objectives were gained.

Flaquot Brifaut - 24/10/1918: The 74th Bde continued the attack through Bois L’Eveque and the battalion was ordered to concentrate in the vicinity of Flaquot Brifaut in L.15 d. This move was completed by 10.53hrs and the battalion remained here until units of the 7th Bde passed through our line whereupon the unit marched out to billets in Pommereuil.

The casualties during the tour [22nd to 24th] were Killed 13 OR, Missing 5 OR, Wounded Officers 3, O.R. 40.

Pommereuil - 25/10/1918: The work of reorganisation was commenced at once and a draft of 145 O.R. was absorbed

Pommereuil - 26/10/1918: No entry for this day

Military History

James died from a gunshot wound to the head in the Rawal Pindi British General Hospital at Wimereux on 7th October 1915. We have not found any definitive evidence to suggest when he was originally wounded but we suspect he was one of the 171 men wounded on 25th September 1915 at Fromelles when the battalion was all but wiped out and were left with only 1 officer and 140 men at the end of the Battle of Loos. An obituary from the Stratford Herald is transcribed below.

Stratford Herald - Friday 15th October 1915 - PRIVATE JAMES ALFRED WRIGHT

We regret to record the death of Private James Alfred Wright of the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment which occurred at the British General Hospital at Boulogne on October 7th from a gunshot wound in the head.

Private Wright was the third son of the late Mr. Benjamin Wright and Mrs. Wright of Birmingham Road and had completed five years service in His Majesty’s Forces. At the outbreak of the war he was stationed with the 2nd Warwicks at Malta and left for more strenuous work in France twelve months ago. The deceased private has three brothers serving at the front in the Royal Field Artillery, 3rd Worcesters and 1st Warwicks.

Military History

Lionel is listed as being killed in action on 29th August 1918, however the Battalion war diary states that he was killed in an enemy ambush on the 30th August. The 10th Battalion war diary entries for the period 28th to 31st August are transcribed below.

High Wood - 28 Aug 1918: Battalion formed up in the morning near High Wood, in rear of 17 R.W.F, to pass through 113 Bde who were attacking through Deville and Longuevalle. The attack had initial success but enemy guns came into action from high ground east and held up our men. 10^th S.W.B caught in this fire scattered into shell holes. Owing to a misunderstanding A & B Coys went forward with 113 Bde and were practically in front line. They were withdrawn at dusk into trenches south of High Wood.

High Wood - 29 Aug 1918: The Battalion rested in trenches south of High Wood. C & D Coys in dug-outs in the wood. Capt Hoffmeister evacuated sick leaving 2/Lt Simpson in charge of C Company.

High Wood – 30 Aug 1918: At 3.30am Battalion left trenches E of High Wood with 2/R.W.F on right. The enemy had withdrawn during the night. Captured 6 prisoners. The Battalion advanced 3,000 yards and then pushed on to Les Boeufs. Lt. Loxton leading ? ran into an ambush and was wounded. He was seen being carried back by the enemy, his body was found next day behind the then German line.

Our advance was held up by M.G. east of Les Boeufs.

The men are tired but very high morale. Lt Schofield evacuated gassed.

6 Officers arrived with a draft of 120 OR. 2/Lt’s Roberts & Ellis rejoined from courses.

Les Boeufs – 31 Aug 1918: All Coys spent a good day in Les Boeufs. B Coy very comfortable, situated in deep dug-outs.

Advance temporarily held up by M.G. nest E of village.

2/Lt Jewell killed by shell. Only a few casualties amongst other ranks.

Men rested and moral[e] very high. 2/Lt Roberts took over duties of Intelligence Officers.